Remedial education has long been viewed as a costly failing of our public education system.

But how much does it cost?

A new study from Complete College America, a non-profit working to boost graduation rates, puts the national cost of remedial education at $3 billion annually. In Colorado, officials estimate the cost of remedial education to the state and students at about $46.5 million for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

But in a guest commentary earlier this year, former Lt. Gov. Barbara O’Brien, a Piton Foundation fellow, and Van Schoales, of A+ Denver, said the local costs in terms of lost opportunities could be much greater:

Colorado also lost potential tax revenue from under-employed college dropouts. Many of these young adults drop out of college because they can’t do the work … and they’re carrying sizable student loans without improved job prospects. There is likelihood that their families will need public health care and social services.

We wouldn’t be surprised if the total cost for Colorado’s crisis in college preparedness is in the billions. And worse: There is a lifetime of lost opportunities for thousands of students.

While the state is taking steps to address the issue, the number of high school graduates who need at least one remedial course increased — to 31.8 percent last year from 28.6 percent in 2009-10.

That might explain the strong political support — among Colorado politicians and nationally — for extending the lower interest rates on Stafford loans, the federally-subsidized students loans awarded based on need.

Supporting higher education is a cause getting a lot of traction at the moment, but yet the public is uneasy and divided about sending more tax dollars to public higher education institutions.

A guest commentary, published on the Post’s opinion page today, makes the case that Colorado’s public support for higher education is shamefully inadequate and should be increased. Jeremy Dehn wrote:

…if we expect tuition to stay reasonable, and if we want the billions in benefits from an educated population, we need to make the decision to support higher education.

If elected, Hick says he would approach the oil and gas industry to kick into such a fund via “voluntary” increases in the severance tax. Surprisingly, at least to me, is that Tisha Schuller, president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, seemed receptive to the idea.

“All Colorado citizens have a stake in improving Colorado’s investment in higher education,” she said, according to the Herald story. “We look forward to collaborating with the next administration, the broader Colorado business community, and concerned citizens on solutions. Colorado’s fiscal challenges will not be met by any one group or industry alone.”

I say surprising because on its face, the idea sounds pretty similar to one floated by Ritter a couple years ago via Amendment 58, which would have directed part of a severance tax increase to college scholarships. The oil and gas industry fought the measure, spending some $11 million to have it go down to defeat in 2008, 58 to 42 percent.

Of course, we would have to see a more detailed explanation of what Hickenlooper has in mind before rendering a judgment. It’s clear that it’s an idea that comes with baggage, but at least it’s an idea that would address the higher education funding problem. Those have been few and far between during this gubernatorial campaign.

David Skaggs, the former congressman and state lawmaker who abrubtly resigned in August as Gov. Bill Ritter’s higher education head, has joined a powerful and politically connected law firm.

Skaggs is now working for McKenna Long & Aldridge, an international law firm with 475 attorneys and public policy advisors and with offices across the country, including in Denver. Skaggs is serving as a “senior strategic advisor” at the firm and likely will be lobbying at the state level, officials with the firm said.

He “will advise clients on legal issues in areas of administrative law, government contracts, and corporate ethics,” according to a statement released by the firm. “He will also assist clients in the areas of education, national security and public private partnerships.”

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.